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The nuclear localization of SWI/SNF proteins is subjected to oxygen regulation

Ranita Ghosh Dastidar1, Jagmohan Hooda1, Ajit Shah1

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Mail Stop RL11 800 W Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.

Cell & Bioscience
|August 31, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Hypoxia causes nuclear proteins to change location. SWI/SNF proteins rapidly move to the cytosol during hypoxia, impacting gene regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygen, is linked to diseases like cancer and stroke.
  • Cellular responses to hypoxia involve significant molecular and protein localization changes.
  • Over 120 nuclear proteins alter their location under hypoxic conditions, affecting crucial cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify proteins critical for mediating cellular responses to hypoxia.
  • To investigate the role of nuclear protein relocalization in hypoxia response.
  • To evaluate the function of these relocalizing proteins in yeast models.

Main Methods:

  • Characterizing the time course of nuclear protein relocalization under hypoxia and reoxygenation.
  • Analyzing gene expression data to identify oxygen-regulated genes.
  • Utilizing confocal fluorescent live cell imaging to track protein localization.

Main Results:

  • Seventeen nuclear proteins showed rapid relocalization in response to both hypoxia and reoxygenation.
  • Components of the SWI/SNF complex were identified as fast responders.
  • Over 95% of SWI/SNF proteins shifted from the nucleus to the cytosol under hypoxia.

Conclusions:

  • SWI/SNF proteins exhibit rapid relocalization dynamics in response to oxygen level changes.
  • This dynamic relocalization is a key mechanism in regulating SWI/SNF target genes under varying oxygen conditions.
  • The findings suggest SWI/SNF protein movement significantly contributes to the cellular adaptation to hypoxia.

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